May 14, 2025
MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that Atlanta Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider's (hamstring) fastball was at 93-94 mph during the latter stages of a 20-pitch second inning during his simulated game on Wednesday. It's not exactly promising, but fantasy managers also need to remember it's just a simulated game. The 26-year-old isn't going to return from the 15-day injured list this week, but he could still skip a minor-league rehab assignment and rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation next week for a series against the division-rival Washington Nationals. Strider got a late start to 2025 after recovering from an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last April and then landed on the IL with his right-hamstring strain after just one start. When completely healthy, Strider showed us he has ace potential by winning 20 games and striking out a league-high 281 batters.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
May 14, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) homered in his third plate appearance in his first minor-league rehab game in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday in his first game of any kind since May 26 of last year when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Acuna played six innings on Tuesday and will now play his next rehab game on Thursday for Triple-A Gwinnett. It's unclear how long it will be before the 27-year-old former MVP rejoins the Braves, but rehab assignments for position players can last a maximum of 20 days. Atlanta is taking a more cautious approach to Acuna's rehab than they did after his previous right ACL tear a few years ago since he dealt with soreness through the 2022 season after he returned. His numbers were down the rest of the year before he had a historical 2023 campaign. Acuna will be a difference-maker when he returns, likely in late May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
May 14, 2025
Atlanta Braves rookie catcher
Drake Baldwin hit his fourth home run and recorded three hits in Monday's victory over the division-rival Washington Nationals. It was Baldwin's second start in a three-day span, something he had not done since
Sean Murphy returned from the injured list in the 10th game of the season. Manager Brian Snitker said the hot-hitting Baldwin will start to play more, and he'll start again in Thursday's series finale against the Nats. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop should see fairly regular playing time against right-handed pitchers after starting his first MLB season hitting .329/.382/.557 with 11 RBI and eight runs scored in 70 at-bats. The former third-round pick in 2022 from Missouri State has 10 hits in 18 at-bats in eight games in May with two homers, two doubles and five RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
May 14, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Tuesday that they placed left-hander
Jose Quintana (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 11) with a left-shoulder impingement and recalled right-hander
Tobias Myers from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Quintana dealt with some shoulder soreness in his last start. The Brewers were originally hoping to push the 36-year-old veteran southpaw back a few days to Saturday, but they have now made the move to sideline him for a couple of weeks to let him rest. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to return to Milwaukee's starting rotation when he's eligible on May 26. Myers, who was recently sent to Triple-A after a poor start, should fill in for Quintana in the rotation in the short term. Quintana had gone 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP but with only 24 K's in 34 innings in his six starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers
May 14, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora thinks that infielder
Romy Gonzalez (quadriceps) will miss the minimum time on the 10-day injured list, which would put him back on the major-league roster on May 18 for the finale of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. The 28-year-old landed on the IL on May 10 with a left-quadriceps contusion but should be back with the team soon and is expected to see regular playing time at first base with
Triston Casas (knee) out for the rest of the season. It's unclear if the Red Sox will send Gonzalez on a short minor-league rehab assignment before they activate him. As long as he's playing regularly when he returns, Gonzalez will have fantasy value in deep-mixed and AL-only formats. He has yet to homer in 52 at-bats in 2025, but he's hit a strong .308 (16-for-52) with six RBI 10 runs and three stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 14, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Walker Buehler (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is scheduled for another one on Thursday. Barring a setback, Buehler is expected to return to the team's starting rotation for the three-game series against the New York Mets in Boston that runs from May 19-21. The 30-year-old veteran landed on the 15-day injured list on May 2 with inflammation in his right shoulder, but it looks like he's going to return to the big leagues without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. We wouldn't blame fantasy managers for wanting to leave Buehler on their bench when he returns to face the first-place Mets next week. In his six starts in his first season in Beantown, the former Dodgers hurler has gone 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA (4.29 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and nine walks in 33 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 14, 2025
The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander
Tanner Houck (forearm) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 13) on Wednesday with a right flexor pronator strain and recalled right-hander
Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford. This could be one of those phantom injury situations in Beantown, with the BoSox shutting the 28-year-old down as he searches for answers after a rough start to his 2025 campaign. He allowed 11 earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers on Monday to raise his season ERA to 8.04 and WHIP to 1.69 over nine starts. As Houck tries to get healthy and figure some things out of the next couple of weeks, Criswell could replace him in Boston's starting rotation. In 4 1/3 relief innings earlier this year, Criswell allowed eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits while walking one.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WEEI - Rob Bradford
May 14, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson will retreat to the bench for Wednesday's game against the visiting Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park. Veteran
Jose Trevino will do the catching for left-hander
Nick Lodolo and will bat sixth against White Sox right-hander
Davis Martin. Stephenson got a late start to the 2025 season due to injury and has yet to find his footing offensively after he hit a career-high 19 home runs and drove in a career-high 66 runs in 138 games in 2024. Through his first 10 games in 2025, the 28-year-old backstop has gone just 7-for-34 (.206) with a homer, five RBI and four runs scored in 40 trips to the plate. Trevino, who was serving as Cincy's starting catcher when Stephenson was on the injured list, has been much better with a .307 average (27-for-88) with three homers, 10 RBI and 15 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 14, 2025
Los Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the San Diego Padres. This appears to be a routine rest day for O'Hoppe who is currently in a slump at the plate. O'Hoppe has only two hits over his last seven games, so hopefully a night off will help him get back on track.
Travis d'Arnaud will start behind the plate and bat sixth versus right-hander
Randy Vasquez on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly ahead of first pitch.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 14, 2025
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Kyle Isbel is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Isbel will head to the bench with left-hander
Colton Gordon taking the mound for Houston. The Royals will play matchups and have right-handed slugger
Mark Canha take over in left field and bat sixth versus Gordon. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly, but Isbel isn't worth rostering in most fantasy formats. However, it's worth noting that Isbel carried a six-game hitting streak into Tuesday's game, but it ended with his 0-for-3 performance in that contest.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 14, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Cam Smith is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This appears to be a regular off day for Smith who has started in each of the last four games. During that span, Smith collected three hits with one RBI and three walks. The Astros have high hopes for Smith that he can be legitimate threat in this lineup soon. Right now, Smith is struggling with a .214/.313/.347 slash line with three homers and 11 RBI coming into Wednesday's contest. He is only worth a look in deep leagues at the moment.
Zach Dezenzo will take over in right field and bat eighth versus right-hander
Michael Lorenzen on Wednesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 14, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. This appears to be a routine rest day for Hayes who has been hot with the bat lately. Hayes has recorded eight hits over his last eight games with two RBI and two stolen bases during that time. Unless he comes in as a pinch-hitter, Hayes will carry a four-game hitting streak into Friday's contest.
Jared Triolo will cover third base and bat ninth versus right-hander
Clay Holmes on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Hayes sidelined.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 14, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (back) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. Cruz is set to miss his fourth game in a row due to back soreness that he suffered over the weekend. It doesn't sound like the Pirates want to place him on the injured list, but they might be forced to if he doesn't start getting better. In his absence,
Ji Hwan Bae will cover center field and bat eighth versus right-hander
Clay Holmes. The Pirates are off on Thursday, so fantasy managers will need to check back on Friday for another update on Cruz.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb
May 14, 2025
Chicago Cubs catcher
Moises Ballesteros is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. Ballesteros will head to the bench after going 0-for-4 during his MLB debut on Tuesday. The rookie catcher is likely out of the lineup due to the fact the Cubs are facing left-hander
Ryan Weathers in this one. Ballesteros figures to see regular playing time at designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
Carson Kelly will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup versus Weathers on Wednesday. Ballesteros should be back in the lineup after this one and is worth an add in deep leagues.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
May 14, 2025
Minnesota Twins outfielder
Harrison Bader (groin) was removed from Game 2 of a doubleheader on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles early with left-groin tightness, the team announced. Bader was removed in the third inning after grounding out. He also had an injury scare in the Game 1 win at Camden Yards during a sliding catch in the outfield.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. replaced Bader in center field. Before leaving, the 30-year-old went 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI in Game 2. It's unclear exactly how serious Bader's groin injury is, but it's a good bet that he won't be active for the series finale in Baltimore on Thursday. His next chance to return would be for Friday's series opener versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Bader entered the day hitting a nice .298/.387/.462 with an .848 OPS, four home runs, 17 RBI, 16 runs and four steals in his 104 at-bats in his first year in Minnesota.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
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